Image display apparatus and camera and image communication system

ABSTRACT

The camera reads identification information of the user, which is contained in an identification card, through a card reading part. The camera connects automatically to a server designated in accordance with the read identification information through a communication interface. Then, the camera transmits and stores the data of recorded images to the designated server. The camera retrieves the image data stored in the server, and reproduces and displays the image on an image display at the back of the camera. A plurality of cameras in which the same user&#39;s identification information is set can be controlled altogether in the image-recording and reproduction by one camera. One camera in which the identification information of a plurality of user&#39;s is set can distribute the recorded image data to the servers of the users simultaneously.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image display apparatus and a camerathat are provided with functions of communicating with a server througha network and transmitting and receiving image data to and from theserver, and an image communication system that distributes the imagedata by means of the image display apparatus, the camera and the server.

2. Description of Related Art

Recently, an information apparatus such as a digital camera and apersonal digital assistant (PDA) that has an image display has been incommon use. This apparatus is provided with a communication function ofconnecting to a computer network so that a variety of information can beexchanged. Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 8-315106discloses a system that adds an identification signal of a cameraman toimage data recorded with a digital camera for the purpose ofdistributing the recorded image with a charge. Specifically, the systemadds the cameraman's identification signal to the recorded image data tothereby specify who is the cameraman of the recorded image (i.e., anoriginal owner of the image data) distributed on the network. Then, thecameraman can charge a user of the distributed image for the use.

The conventional information apparatus such as the digital camera cannotstore a number of images since the capacity of an internal memory islimited. The recorded image may be transmitted to the server to reducethe burden of the memory with the use of a technique disclosed inJapanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 8-315106. In this case, theuse of the network and a database charges therefor, and it is thereforenecessary to carefully designate a server to connect and identify theuser. Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 8-315106, however,merely teaches adding the identification signal to the recorded imagedata to ensure the payment for the secondary use of the image data. Itfails to teach designating the server to connect or to which the imagedata is transmitted.

Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 5-165932 discloses anothersystem that makes it possible for a plurality of users to connect to aserver at the same time so that they can edit the image data while theylook at the same image.

A liquid crystal display (LCD) is used as the image display in many ofapparatus that are provided with the above-mentioned image displayfunction. If several persons look at the same screen, the image issometimes difficult to see because of the direction of the liquidcrystals. In this case, it is possible to distribute the image data to aplurality of apparatuses with the use of a technique disclosed inJapanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 5-165932 so that severalpersons can look at the same image on the plurality of displays at thesame time. Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 5-165932,however, merely proposes a processing method in the case where severalpersons edit the same image. The mere application of this method has aproblem described below. Since each person can freely enter a commandfrom each apparatus, one person enters a command of “switch to the nextimage”, whereas another person enters a command of an “enlargement”, forexample. If a rule were adopted in such a way that another command isnot accepted during the processing of one command, an arbitraryoperation of one person would influence all the other persons. It istherefore impossible to supervise the images that are distributed to allthe persons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed in view of the above-describedcircumstances, and has as its object the provision of an image displayapparatus and a camera that recognize who is using the apparatus (auser), communicate automatically with a server that is under contractwith the user, and display the same image on a plurality of apparatuseswhile one of the apparatuses supervises the distribution of the images.Another object of the present invention is to provide an imagecommunication system that makes possible the distribution of the imagedata by means of the above-mentioned apparatuses provided with thecommunication function.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is directedto an image display apparatus comprising: an information reader forreading identification information from an external storage medium; acommunicating device for communicating with a server through a network,the server being designated in accordance with the read identificationinformation; and an image display for displaying an image represented byimage data distributed from the server.

According to the present invention, the information reader reads theinformation contained in the external storage medium, and theidentification information of a certain person contained in the externalstorage medium is entered into the image display apparatus. Then, aserver is designated in accordance with the entered identificationinformation, and the communicating device connects the image displayapparatus automatically to the designated server. The image displayapparatus receives the image data from the connected server, anddisplays the image represented by the image data on the image display.

The use of the external storage medium makes it easy to enter theidentification information of the user into the image display apparatusand connect the image display apparatus to the server designated inaccordance with the user.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, an imagedisplay apparatus comprises: an information reader for readingidentification information from an external storage medium; anonvolatile storage device for storing identification information of anowner of the image display apparatus; a user's identificationinformation setting device for setting the owner's identificationinformation as user's identification information if the informationreader reads no identification information, and setting theidentification information read by the information reader as the user'sidentification information if the information reader reads theidentification information; a communicating device for communicatingwith a server through a network, the server being designated inaccordance with the user's identification information; and an imagedisplay for displaying an image represented by image data distributedfrom the server. Accordingly, once the owner of the image displayapparatus records his or her own identification information in the ownapparatus, it is possible to omit the entering of the identificationinformation to use the own apparatus.

To erase previously-set user's identification information, a user'sidentification information erasing device may be adopted so that theuser's identification information is erased when the image displayapparatus is turned off. Further, a user's identification informationupdating device may be adopted so that when the information reader readsa new identification information, the set user's identificationinformation is erased and the new identification information is set asthe user's identification information.

Moreover, the image display apparatus further comprises a user'sidentification information confirmation device for, if the set user'sidentification information is other than the owner's identificationinformation, requiring resetting of the user's identificationinformation when a first preset time has elapsed after the setting ofthe set user's identification information, and erasing the set user'sidentification information when a second preset time has elapsed withoutthe resetting after the requirement. The provision of this deviceprevents the user's identification information other than the owner'sidentification information from being fraudfully used. This providessecurity when a pay network, etc. is used.

It is also possible to use a plurality of image display apparatuses ofthe present invention. In this case, the image display apparatus furthercomprises: a cooperative mode designating device for designating theimage display apparatus in either of a master mode and a slave mode withrespect to at least one additional image display apparatus reading thesame identification information that the image display apparatus reads;wherein the image display apparatus supervises the additional imagedisplay apparatus when the image display apparatus is in the mastermode; wherein the image display apparatus is supervised by one of theadditional image display apparatus when the image display apparatus isin the slave mode, the one of the additional image display apparatusbeing designated in the master mode by the cooperative mode designatingdevice thereof.

According to the present invention, the identification information ofone person is set as the user's identification information in theplurality of image display apparatuses, so that several persons can lookat the same image displayed on the plurality of image displayapparatuses. In particular, only the image display apparatus that isdesignated in the master mode is capable of manipulating the images suchas switching, enlarging, and reducing. The master image displayapparatus can supervise the images that displayed on the other imagedisplay apparatuses designated in the slave mode.

Moreover, the image display apparatus further comprises a communicationmode designating device for designating the image display apparatus ineither of an on-line mode and an off-line mode with respect to at leastone additional image display apparatus reading the same identificationinformation that the image display apparatus reads; wherein the imagedisplay apparatus supervises the additional image display apparatus whenthe image display apparatus is in the on-line mode and the master mode;wherein the image display apparatus is supervised by one of theadditional image display apparatus when the image display apparatus isin the on-line mode and the slave mode, the one of the additional imagedisplay apparatus being designated in the master mode by the cooperativemode designating device thereof; wherein the image display apparatusoperates independently of the additional image display apparatus whenthe image display apparatus is in the off-line mode. Accordingly, it ispossible to satisfy a personal need to freely operate the image displayapparatus without the control of the image display apparatus designatedin the master mode.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is directedto a camera comprising: an imaging part provided with an imaging opticalsystem and an imaging device, an image of a subject being formed on alight receiving surface of the imaging device through the imagingoptical system, the imaging device photoelectrically converting theimage into an image signal; a signal processor for processing the imagesignal sent from the imaging device so as to produce image data; aninformation reader for reading identification information from anexternal storage medium; a communicating device for communicating with aserver through a network, the server being designated in accordance withthe read identification information; and a data transmitter fortransmitting the image data to the server.

It is preferable that the camera further comprises an image display fordisplaying a first image captured by the imaging part and a second imagerepresented by image data distributed from the server.

According to the present invention, the information reader reads theinformation contained in the external storage medium, and theidentification information of a certain person contained in the externalstorage medium is entered into the camera. Then, a server is designatedin accordance with the entered identification information, and thecommunicating device connects the camera automatically to the designatedserver. The transmission of the recorded image data to the connectedserver eliminates the necessity for providing the camera with a memorythat stores a large amount of image data. Thus, the image-recording isperformed without need to pay attention to the amount of the recordedimage data.

It is also possible to use a plurality of cameras of the presentinvention. In this case, the camera further comprises: a cameracommunicating device for communicating with at least one additionalcameras reading the same identification information that the camerareads; and a cooperative mode designating device for designating thecamera in either of a master mode and a slave mode with respect to theadditional cameras; wherein the camera supervises the additional camerathrough the camera communicating device when the camera is in the mastermode; wherein the camera is supervised by one of the additional camerasthrough the camera communicating device when the camera is in the slavemode, the one of the additional cameras being designated in the mastermode by the cooperative mode designating device thereof.

According to the present invention, the identification information ofone person is set as the user's identification information in theplurality of cameras. One of these cameras is designated in the mastermode, and all of the cameras can be controlled by operating only thecamera designated in the master mode. It is therefore possible toperform a simultaneous image-recording such as a panoramic photography,a 360° photography, etc. using the plurality of cameras.

In order to increase the functions of the camera, the camera furthercomprises: an identification information storage device for storingidentification information of a plurality of persons read by theinformation reader; and a communication controller for controlling thecommunicating device and the data transmitter such that thecommunicating device communicates with the server designated inaccordance with the read identification information of each of thepersons and the data transmitter transmits the image data to thedesignated server.

According to the present invention, the identification information ofthe plurality of persons can be set as the user's identificationinformation in one camera, and the same image data is distributedsimultaneously or sequentially to one or more of servers, each of whichis designated in accordance with each of the plurality of persons. Thus,when the one camera performs the image-recording, the recorded imagedata can be distributed automatically to the one or more of servers,thus eliminating the necessity for extra printing.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided an information adding device for adding the identificationinformation read by the information reader to the image data of therecorded image. If the identification information of each person who isa subject in the recorded image is entered into the camera in the casewhere several persons are snapshot, the identification information ofthe persons is attached to the recorded image data. The persons in therecorded image can be identified in accordance with the attachedinformation, and thus, the recorded images are retrieved using theattached information.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is directedto an image communication system comprising: at least one serverprovided with a storage device storing image data; a network capable ofconnecting to the server; an image display apparatus communicating withthe server through the network, the image display apparatus comprising:an information reader for reading identification information from anexternal storage medium; a communicating device for communicating withthe server through the network, the server being designated inaccordance with the read identification information; and an imagedisplay for displaying an image represented by the image datadistributed from the server; and a data distributor for distributing theimage data from the server to the image display apparatus in accordancewith a command given through the image display apparatus.

According to the present invention, the image display apparatus connectsto the server designated in accordance with the identificationinformation entered from the external storage medium, and receives theimage data from the server. In this case, there may be provided a chargecalculator for calculating a charge to a person designated with theentered identification information for at least one of using the networkand using the image data. Consequently, it is possible to properlycharge the person who receives the service.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is directedto an image communication system comprises: at least one server providedwith a storage device storing image data; a network capable ofconnecting to the server; a camera communicating with the server throughthe network, the camera comprising: an imaging part provided with animaging optical system and an imaging device, an image of a subjectbeing formed on a light receiving surface of the imaging device throughthe imaging optical system, the imaging device photoelectricallyconverting the image into an image signal; a signal processor forprocessing the image signal sent from the imaging device so as toproduce image data; an information reader for reading identificationinformation from an external storage medium; a communicating device forcommunicating with the server through the network, the server beingdesignated in accordance with the read identification information; and adata transmitter for transmitting the image data to the designatedserver; and a transmitted data recording device for recording thetransmitted image data in the designated server.

According to the present invention, the camera connects to the serverdesignated in accordance with the identification information enteredfrom the external recording medium, and transmits the recorded imagedata to the server so that the image data can be stored in the server.In this case, there may be provided a charge calculator for calculatinga charge to a person designated with the entered identificationinformation for at least one of using the network and recording theimage data in the server. Consequently, it is possible to properlycharge the person who receives the service.

The image communication system of the preset invention, wherein thecamera further comprises: an information storage device for storingidentification information of a plurality of persons read by theinformation reader; and an information transmitter for transmitting theread identification information of a first group of at least one of thepersons to a second group of at least one of the server designated inaccordance with the read identification information of a second group ofat least one of the persons; wherein the image communication systemfurther comprises: a data distributor for distributing the image datafrom the second group of the at least one of the server to a first groupof at least one of the server designated in accordance with thetransmitted identification information of the first group of the atleast one of the persons; and a distributed data recording device forrecording the distributed image data in the first group of the at leastone of the server.

According to the present invention, the image data transmitted from thecamera to one of the servers is distributed from the one server to theother servers, so that the image data recorded with the one camera canbe distributed to the plurality of servers at the same time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature of this invention, as well as other objects and advantagesthereof, will be explained in the following with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate thesame or similar parts throughout the figures and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of a cameraaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a back view of the camera in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the inner structure of the camerain FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of an imagecommunication system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a conceptional view describing an embodiment in which thecamera is used;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the flow of setting of user'sidentification information and image data transmission in imagerecording;

FIG. 7 is a conceptional view describing an example in which the sameuser's identification information is set in a plurality of cameras;

FIG. 8 is a view of assistance in explaining a method of setting amaster camera;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the flow of a reproduction process in thecase where the same user's identification information is set in aplurality of cameras;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the flow of an image-recording processin the case where the same user's identification information is set in aplurality of cameras;

FIG. 11 is a conceptional view of assistance in explaining a function ofentering to a group in the middle of the reproduction;

FIG. 12 is a conceptional view describing an example in which theidentification information of a plurality of persons is set as theuser's identification information in one camera; and

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the flow of an image-recording processin the case where the identification information of the plurality ofpersons is set as the user's identification information in the onecamera.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

This invention will be described in further detail by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a digital camera10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. An imaging part12 is provided at the upper right corner of the front of the camera 10,and a grip part 14 is formed at the left side of the camera 10. Theimaging part 12 includes a taking lens and an imaging device such as aCCD arranged behind the taking lens. The taking lens is, for example, arear focus type zoom lens, which is composed of a variable focal-lengthlens group and a compensator lens group.

A shutter release button or a record button 16, a mode dial 18, and apower switch 19 are provided on the top of the camera 10. An informationreader or a card reading part 20 is provided at the right side of thecamera 10. When an external storage medium or an identification card 22is inserted into a groove of the card reading part 20, informationcontained in the identification card 22 is entered into the camera 10through the card reading part 20.

A storage part 23 of the identification card 22 magnetically containsidentification information of an owner of the identification card 22such as name, sex, birthday, an owner's bank, and the number of anowner's bank account. In FIG. 1, the identification card 22 such as acredit card is read, but the external storage medium is not restrictedto this. The external storage medium may be either of a magnetic card,an IC card, and a microchip. The external storage medium may be readelectronically, magnetically, by radio, or by visible or invisiblelight, for example.

FIG. 2 is a back view of the camera 10 in FIG. 1. A single image display24 is provided at the back of the camera 10. The image display 24 is,for example, an LCD, and a touch panel 26 is attached over the imagedisplay 24. Although not illustrated in detail, a variety of operationbuttons are displayed on the image display 24, and a user can enter avariety of commands to the camera 10 through the touch panel 26 bytouching the operation buttons.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the inner structure of the camera10 in FIG. 1. The camera 10 comprises the imaging device or the CCD 30,an imaging circuit 32, a memory 34, a central processing unit (CPU) 36,the image display or the LCD 24, a communication interface 38, a useroperation interface 40, an identification information entering interface42, and an external storage medium interface 44. These componentsconnect to one another through a bus 46.

An image of the subject is formed on a light receiving surface of theCCD 30 through the taking lens of the imaging part 12, and the CCD 30photoelectrically converts the image into an image signal, which is readsequentially. Although not illustrated in detail, the imaging circuit 32includes a signal processor that comprises an analog processing circuitsuch as a CDS cramp circuit and a gain adjustment circuit, an A/Dconverter, a digital image processing circuit such as a luminance signalproducing circuit, a color difference signal producing circuit and agamma correction circuit, and so forth. The image signal sent from theimaging part 12 is processed in the imaging circuit 32, and it is storedin the memory 34 (e.g., a flash memory built in the camera 10) based onan exchangeable image file format (Exif) or another format. The imagesignal may be stored in a detachable external storage medium such as amemory card through the external storage medium interface 44.

The image signal read from the imaging part 12, the memory 34 or thedetachable external storage medium is processed in the signal processor,and the processed image signal is sent to the image display 24 so thatthe captured images can be shown on the image display 24. The imagedisplay 24 shows not only still images recorded upon the pressing of therecord button 16 but also moving images and/or intermittently movingimages captured before the record button 16 is pressed.

The camera 10 has a well-known automatic exposure adjustment (AE)function and an auto-focus (AF) function. Directing the camera 10 to thesubject enables the optimum exposure and focus adjustments to beperformed automatically.

The camera 10 is able to communicate with a server on a computer networkthrough the communication interface 38. The camera 10 transmits theinformation such as the image data of the recorded image to the server,and receives the information such as the image data from the server.

The user operation interface 40 produces a display control signal fordisplaying the operation buttons on the image display 24, and receivesoperation signals from the touch panel 26 and the operation parts suchas the record button 16 and the mode dial 18 provided on the body of thecamera 10.

The identification information entering interface 42 sends a readingcontrol signal to the card reading part 20, and receives the informationread from the identification card 22 through the card reading part 20.

The CPU 36 supervises the circuits in the camera 10. The CPU 36 controlsthe circuits according to the signals from the user operation interface40. The CPU 36 also controls the imaging part 12 to zoom and focus so asto capture images, controls the display on the image display 24,controls the reading/writing of the data in the memory 34, and controlsthe communication with the server.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of an imagecommunication system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

The camera 10 has access to the servers 52A, 52B, . . . , 52 n throughthe network 50 such as a public telephone network or a special network.FIG. 4 shows a computer network that includes a plurality of servers,but the number of servers is not particularly restricted and is at leastone.

The servers 52A, 52B, . . . , 52 n have databases 53A, 53B, . . . , 53n, respectively, that store the image data. The image data recorded withthe camera 10 is transmitted to the servers 52A, 52B, . . . , 52 n andis recorded in the databases 53A, 53B, . . . , 53 n. The image datarecorded in the database can be distributed to the camera 10 and anyother server.

A person who uses the camera 10 (a user) makes a contract to use acertain server or arranges a home server at home (e.g., the server 52A).Then, the user can record the own image data in the database 53A throughthe server 52A and retrieve the image data recorded in the database 53Ato reproduce the image on the image display 24 of the camera 10.

A description will be given of the operation of the camera and the imagecommunication system which are constructed in the above-mentionedmanner.

FIG. 5 is a conceptional view describing an embodiment in which thecamera 10 is used. First, the identification card 22, such as the creditcard, of the user is inserted into the card reading part 20 of thecamera 10 so that the identification information contained in theidentification card 22 is entered into the camera 10. The enteredidentification information is set as the user's identificationinformation. According to the set user's identification information, theserver to which the camera 10 connects is designated, and who (and whichaccount) will be charged for using the network and the server isdetermined.

If, however, an owner of the camera 10 uses the camera 10, it isinconvenient to enter the identification information of the owner everytime the owner uses the camera 10. It is therefore preferable to enterpreviously the identification information from the identification card22 of the owner and record the entered identification information as anowner's identification information in a memory such as a nonvolatilememory in the camera 10. Then, when no identification information isentered through the card reading part 20, the owner's identificationinformation may be set as the user's identification information.

After the setting of the user's identification information, when therecord button 16 of the camera 10 is pressed and the image-recording isperformed, the camera 10 selectively connects to one (e.g., the server52A) of the servers 52A, 52B, . . . , 52 n in accordance with the user'sidentification information automatically. Then, a condition of thecommunication with the server 52A is evaluated, and the data of therecorded image is transmitted to the server 52A when the condition issatisfactory. The image data transmitted to the server 52A is recordedin a predetermined recording region of the server 52A or the database53A.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the flow of the above processing. Whenthe power switch 19 of the camera 10 is turned on (S101), whether toenter the identification information of the user is determined (S102).To enter the identification information, the identification card 22 suchas the credit card is inserted into the card reading part 20, and theidentification information read from the identification card 22 is setas the user's identification information (S104). On the other hand, ifno identification information is entered at S102, thepreviously-recorded owner's identification information is set as theuser's identification information (S106). A server to which the camera10 connects and a person who will be charged are determined inaccordance with the set user's identification information.

Then, the camera 10 waits for a command to perform the image-recording.When the record button 16 is pressed (S108), the camera 10 connects tothe designated server 52 (S110). After the connection to the server 52,the condition of the communication with the server 52 is evaluated(S112). If the communicational condition is determined as beingsatisfactory, the data of the recorded image is transmitted from thecamera 10 to the server 52 and is recorded in the predeterminedrecording region of the server 52 or the database 53 (S114).

On the other hand, if the communicational condition is determined asbeing unsatisfactory at S112, the capacity of the memory 34 built in thecamera 10 is evaluated (S116). If there is enough storage capacity (morethan a predetermined level), the image data is temporarily stored in thememory 34 (S118). Then, the image data transmission to the server 52 ispostponed until it is determined that the communicational conditionbecomes satisfactory (S120). Specifically, if the communicationalcondition is determined as being unsatisfactory, the communication issuspended, and the communicational condition is evaluated again after apredetermined period of time has elapsed. The waiting for thepredetermined period of time and the evaluation of the communicationalcondition are repeated until the communicational condition becomessatisfactory. When the communicational condition becomes satisfactory,the image data stored in the memory 34 is transmitted to the server 52.There may be a limitation on the time for waiting for the improvement ofthe communicational condition, and the communication may be abandoned ifthe communicational condition keeps unsatisfactory in a predeterminedtime.

If there is not enough capacity of the memory 34 at S116, the image dataof the recorded image cannot be stored (S122). Then, a warning of theimpossibility of the image-recording is displayed on the image display24, and the procedure ends.

In the flow chart of FIG. 6, the camera 10 connects to the server 52after the record button 16 is pressed, but the camera 10 may alsoconnect to the server 52 just after the setting of the user'sidentification information so as to evaluate the communicationalcondition.

When the user's identification information is set, the identificationinformation for designating the server to which the camera 10 connectsand the identification information for determining the person who willbe charged for using the network and using the server may be setseparately. For instance, it is possible to designate the server inaccordance with the owner's identification information, and determinethe charged person in accordance with the user's identificationinformation.

If both the owner's identification information and the user'sidentification information are set, it is preferable to provide afunction of confirming the user's identification information repeatedlyat regular intervals. Specifically, every time a first predeterminedperiod of time has elapsed after the entering of the currently-setuser's identification information, it is required to reenter the user'sidentification information. For the reentering, the identification card22 that has been used for the entering of the currently-set user'sidentification information is reinserted in the card reading part 20. Ifthe reentering is not performed by a second predetermined period of timeafter the requirement, the currently-set user's identificationinformation is erased. Thus, when the person other than the owner usesthe camera 10, the user must always carry the identification card 22(e.g., the credit card), which is effective for security.

A description will be given of examples in which the currently-setuser's identification information is erased. There is a variety of waysto erase the user's identification information set in the camera 10 asdescribed below.

(1) When the power switch 19 of the camera 10 is turned off, thecurrently-set user's identification information is erased. When thepower switch 19 of the camera 10 is turned on next time, it is requiredagain to enter the identification information to be set as the user'sidentification information. If no identification information is enteredinto the camera 10 on the setting of the user's identificationinformation, the owner's identification information is set as the user'sidentification information in the camera 10.

(2) To erase the user's identification information while the power ofthe camera 10 keeps on, the mode dial 18, the operation button, etc. areoperated to switch the camera 10 to a user's identification informationerasing mode. Then, the user's identification information is erased uponthe entering of a command to erase it through the operation buttons. Inthis case, a message is preferably displayed on the image display 24 toindicate that the user's identification information has been erased.

(3) When new identification information is entered into the camera 10,the currently-set user's identification information is erased, and thenew identification information is then set as a new user'sidentification information. However, if the camera 10 is in a mode forsetting the identification information of a plurality of persons as theuser's identification information, this automatic updating function issuspended.

(4) If the identification card 22 is such as the magnetic card, which isinserted or touched to the camera 10 so that the identificationinformation is entered into the camera 10, the camera 10 automaticallyswitches into an identification information confirmation mode repeatedlyat regular intervals to require the user to reenter the currently-setuser's identification information. Then, the currently-set user'sidentification information is erased automatically if the identificationcard 22 is not reinserted or retouched while the camera 10 is in theidentification information confirmation mode. On the other hand, if theidentification information is entered from the identification card 22into the camera 10 without inserting or touching of the identificationcard 22 to the camera 10 (e.g., by radio, by visible or invisible light,etc.), the currently-set user's identification information is erasedautomatically upon determination that the identification card 22 isapart from the camera 10 (i.e., the set user stops using the camera 10,and another person starts using the camera 10) when the camera 10 loosescontact with the identification card 22 for a predetermined period oftime. It is therefore possible to prevent the user's identificationinformation from being used without permission and secure the security.If the user's identification information is erased in these methods, theowner's identification information is automatically set as the user'sidentification information.

The above methods (1)-(4) are convenient because there is required nocomplicated process of entering a personal identification number,password, etc. to erase the user's identification information. On theother hand, with respect to the owner's identification information, itis preferable to require the process of entering the personalidentification number, password, etc. of the owner so as to make itdifficult to erase the owner's identification information.

A description will be given of a mode of setting the identificationinformation of one person as the user's identification information in aplurality of cameras.

FIG. 7 is a conceptional view describing the mode in which theidentification information of one person is set as the user'sidentification information in a plurality of cameras. In FIG. 7, oneidentification card 22 is used to enter the identification informationof the one person into three cameras 10A, 10B & 10C. When the sameidentification card 22 is inserted sequentially into card reading parts20A, 20B & 20C of the cameras 10A, 10B & 10C, respectively, theidentification information of the one person is set as the user'sidentification information in the cameras 10A, 10B & 10C.

If the same user's identification information is set in the cameras 10A,10B & 10C, the cameras 10A, 10B & 10C connect simultaneously orsequentially to the same server 52 and can be distributed with the sameimage data from the server 52. Consequently, the same image is shown onthe image displays 24A, 24B & 24C of the cameras 10A, 10B & 10C,respectively, eliminating the conventional inconvenience when somepersons look at one LCD monitor.

If the cameras 10A, 10B & 10C are provided with devices forcommunicating with one another, the image data may be distributed to thecameras 10A, 10B & 10C as follows. Only one camera (e.g., the camera10A) connects to the server 52, and receives the image data from theserver 52. Then, the camera 10A distributes the image data to the othercameras (the cameras 10B & 10C). This reduces the charges for using thenetwork 50 and the server 52.

When the same user's identification information is set in the cameras10A, 10B & 10C, they may be used separately, but they also be controlledaltogether in accordance with operation of one of them. Specifically,the one of the cameras 10A, 10B & 10C is designated as a master cameraamong the cameras in which the same user's identification information isset. The cameras other than the master camera are designated as slavecameras, which are controlled through the master camera.

For instance, in the user's identification information setting mode, thecamera in which the user's identification information is set first isdesignated as the master camera. The first set camera (e.g., the camera10A) connects to the server 52 first. Then, when the next set camera(e.g., the camera 10B) connects to the server 52, the server 52 canrecognize that the camera having the same user's identificationinformation (i.e., the camera 10A) has already connected to the server52. The master camera and the slave cameras are thus determined inaccordance with an order in which the cameras connect to the server 52.

To switch the master camera, a command to switch the master camera isentered to the master camera 10A as shown in FIG. 8. Then, all thecameras 10A, 10B & 10C, in which the same user's identificationinformation is set, switch to a master camera designating mode, and amessage is shown on the image displays 24A, 24B & 24C to require theuser to designate the master camera. When the identification informationis entered into a desired camera (e.g., the camera 10C) or theidentification card 22 is inserted into the camera 10C, the camera 10Cis designated as a new master camera.

After the designation of the master/slave cameras, the master camera isoperated to control the action of all cameras. For example, if themaster camera is operated to switch reproduced images on aframe-by-frame basis in an image-reproducing mode, images displayed onall the cameras are switched on a frame-by-frame basis. If a command toenlarge or reduce the reproduced image is entered into the mastercamera, the images displayed on all the cameras are enlarged or reduced.Such a function enables the cameras to be used not only for theimage-recording but also as a presentational tool at a conference.

Moreover, operating the master camera controls the image-recording, etc.of all of the cameras, in which the same user's identificationinformation is set. It is therefore easy to realize a synchronousimage-recording such as a panoramic photography and a 360° photographyusing the plurality of cameras.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are flow charts showing the flow of the above processing.

FIG. 9 shows the flow of the processing in the case where the sameuser's identification information is set in a plurality of cameras,which reproduce images. When the power switch of each camera (camera 1,camera 2, . . . ) is turned on (S131), whether to enter identificationinformation to be set as the user's identification information isdetermined in each of the cameras (S132). Although not illustrated, ifno identification information is entered, the owner's identificationinformation is set as the user's identification information as is thecase with S106 in FIG. 6, and the normal (no cooperation with any othercamera) image-recording or image-reproduction is then started.

To enter the user's identification information at S132, the sameidentification card is inserted sequentially into each of the cameras(the cameras 1, 2, . . . ) (S134). The camera into which theidentification card is inserted first (e.g., the camera 1) is designatedas the master camera.

If a reproduction switch of the master camera (the camera 1) is turnedon (S136), a command to start to reproduce an image is issued to all theslave cameras (the cameras 2, 3, . . . ). Then, each of the mastercamera and the slave cameras connects to the server 52 and retrieves theimage data from the server 52 to reproduce the image (S138). If thecameras can communicate with one another, only the master camera mayreceive the image data from the server 52 and distribute the image datato the slave cameras.

When the master camera receives a command to switch the images on aframe-by-frame basis (S140), this command is issued to all the slavecameras. Then, the master camera retrieves the image data of the nextframe from the server 52 in accordance with the command, and the mastercamera reproduces the next image (S148). On the other hand, each of theslave cameras determines whether it can communicate with the mastercamera (S142). If the slave camera can communicate with the mastercamera, the slave camera is distributed with the image data of the nextframe from the master camera (S144). If the slave camera cannotcommunicate with the master camera, the slave camera retrieves the imagedata of the next frame from the server 52 directly (S146). Then, theslave cameras reproduce the next image (S150).

As the frame-by-frame switching process shown in FIG. 9, the enlargementand reduction processes may be performed in the same manner. Thus, thesame image can be displayed on all the cameras, and the master cameracan control all the images distributed to all the cameras.

Each of the cameras may be provided with a communication modedesignating device for designating the camera in either of an on-linemode and an off-line mode so as to meet a requirement to display theimage freely without the control of the master camera when the sameimage is displayed on the plurality of cameras. If a person would liketo observe the image by himself, his camera is switched to the off-linemode to operate independently of the master camera temporarily. Then,when the camera is switched to the on-line mode, the camera starts theprocessing in the same manner as the other cameras and returns to thegroup that is controlled by the master camera.

FIG. 10 shows the flow of the processing in the case where theidentification information of one person is set as the user'sidentification information in a plurality of cameras, which recordimages. When the power switch of each camera (camera 1, camera 2, . . .) is turned on (S161), whether to enter identification information to beset as the user's identification information is determined in each ofthe cameras (S162). Although not illustrated, if no identificationinformation is entered, the owner's identification information is set asthe user's identification information as is the case with S106 in FIG.6, and the normal (no cooperation with any other camera) image-recordingor image-reproduction is then started.

To enter the user's identification information at S162, the sameidentification card 22 is inserted sequentially into each of the cameras(the cameras 1, 2, . . . ) (S164). The camera into which theidentification card 22 is inserted first (e.g., the camera 1) isdesignated as the master camera.

When the record button 16 of the master camera is pressed to recordimage data, the command to record image data is issued to all the slavecameras. Then, each of the master camera and the slave cameras connectsto the common server 52 and transmits the image data of the recordedimage to the server 52 (S168). Thus, the pressing the record button 16of the master camera causes the image-recording of all the cameras. Itis particularly advantageous if there is a necessity for the synchronousimage-recording as in the panoramic photography.

FIG. 11 is a conceptional view describing another embodiment in whichthe identification information of one person is set as the user'sidentification information in a plurality of cameras. In the middle ofthe reproduction in the state wherein the same user's identificationinformation is set in two cameras 10A & 10B, the same user'sidentification information may be set in the camera 10C.

If the identification card 22 is inserted into the card reading part 20Cof the camera 10C to set the same user's identification information asin the two cameras 10A & 10B while the two cameras 10A & 10B areperforming the reproduction, the same image is displayed on the camera10C in synchronism with the two cameras 10A & 10B. Thus, the camera 10Ccan join the group anytime during the reproduction.

A description will be given of an embodiment in which the identificationinformation of a plurality of persons is set as the user'sidentification information in one camera.

FIG. 12 is a conceptional view in which identification information of aplurality of persons is set as the user's identification information inthe camera 10. FIG. 12 shows an example in which the identificationinformation of three persons A, B & C is entered into the camera 10 fromidentification cards 22A, 22B & 22C. When the identification cards 22A,22B & 22C are inserted sequentially into the card reading part 20 of thecamera 10, the identification information about the three persons A, B &C contained in the identification cards 22A, 22B & 22C is read into thecamera 10 and is set as the user's identification information. Thepersons A, B & C have their own data recording regions in the servers52A, 52B & 52C, respectively.

If the image-recording is performed using the camera 10 in which theidentification information of the plurality of persons is set as theuser's identification information, the camera 10 connects simultaneouslyor sequentially to the servers 52A, 52B & 52C corresponding to thepersons A, B & C at the time of the image-recording, and then the camera10 distributes the image data of the recorded image to the servers 52A,52B & 52C. Thus, the registration of persons who are subjects in asnapshot, etc. eliminates the necessity for extra printing.

Instead of connecting to the servers 52A, 52B & 52C, it is possible totransmit the image data to one server among them and distribute theimage data from the one server to the other servers through the network.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the flow of the above processing. Whenthe power switch 19 of the camera 10 is turned on (S171), whether toenter the identification information to be set as the user'sidentification information is determined (S172). To enter theidentification information, the identification card such as the creditcard is inserted into the card reading part 20, and the identificationinformation entered from the identification card 22 is set as the user'sidentification information (S174).

After the set of the user's identification information, the procedurereturns to S172, and the processing from S172 through S174 is repeateduntil the identification information of the plurality of persons is setas the user's identification information. If no more identificationinformation is entered at S172 after the identification information ofthe plurality of persons is set as the user's identificationinformation, the command to perform the image-recording is waited.

When the record button 16 is pressed (S176), whether the data of therecorded image has already been transmitted to all servers designatedwith the set user's identification information is determined (S178). Ifthe image data transmission to all servers is not completed, the cameraconnects to each of the severs 52A, 52B & 52C designated with the setuser's identification information (S180).

After connecting to each of the servers 52A, 52B & 52C, thecommunicational condition is evaluated (S182). If satisfactory, the dataof the recorded image is transmitted to each server and is recorded in apredetermined recording region (S184). If not satisfactory, the imagedata is transmitted to each server when the communicational conditionbecomes satisfactory (S186).

Then, the procedure returns to S178, and the processing from S178through S186 is repeated until the image data transmission to allservers is completed. If the image data transmission is complete atS178, the procedure ends.

In another processing method, after the record button 16 is pressed atS176, the image data is transmitted to the first server that isdesignated with the first-set user's identification information (S191),and the image data is distributed from the first server to the otherservers (S192).

All or a part of the user's identification information may be added tothe data of the image recorded with the camera 10, in which theidentification information of the plurality of persons is set as theuser's identification information, and the image data with theinformation is recorded. Since the information of the user'sidentification information is a clue to recognize a person on a recordedimage in a snapshot, it may be used to retrieve the images during thereproduction, etc.

In the above embodiments, the present invention is applied to thedigital camera, but the present invention may also be applied to avariety of apparatuses provided with the image display function such asan LCD monitor apparatus and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

As set forth hereinabove, the image display apparatus of the presentinvention reads the identification information about the user from theexternal storage medium, and connects to the server designated inaccordance with the read identification information. For this reason,the users can easily be registered in the apparatus, and the image datastored in the servers for the persons can be retrieved easily. It isalso possible to clearly determine who will be charged for connecting tothe server and for receiving the image data.

A plurality of image display apparatuses of the present invention can beused together. The identification information of one person is set asthe user's identification information in the plurality of image displayapparatuses, and one of the image display apparatuses is designated asthe master that controls the entire image display apparatuses.Consequently, the same image can be observed at the same time on theplurality of image display apparatuses. For example, the image displayapparatus may be used as a presentation tool, and it is possible toavoid the conventional inconvenience when some persons look at onemonitor.

The camera of the present invention reads the identification informationabout the user from the external storage medium, and connects to theserver designated in accordance with the read identification informationso that the data of the recorded image can be transmitted to the server.Thus, the users can easily be registered in the camera. If a person usesa camera of another person, he or she can transmit the data of therecorded image automatically to his or her server. Moreover, it is easyto know who should be charged for using the server, etc. and the user isproperly required to pay the charges. Since the recorded image data isstored in the server, there is no necessity for providing a device thatstores a large amount of data in the camera. For this reason, a numberof pictures can be taken without paying attention to the amount of therecorded data.

A plurality of cameras of the present invention can be used together.The identification information of one person is set as the user'sidentification information in the plurality of cameras, and one of thecameras is designated as the master that controls the entire cameras.Consequently, the one camera can control the image-recording in theplurality of cameras, and thus, the synchronous image-recording such asthe panoramic photography and the 360° photography can be performedeasily.

In addition, the identification information of a plurality of users isset in one camera so that the data of the recorded image can bedistributed to each user at the same time. This eliminates the necessityfor extra printing in the snapshot.

The identification information is added to the image data so that aperson on the recorded image can be recognized easily. Moreover, theidentification information added to the image data is helpful forretrieving the images.

In the image communication system of the present invention, the imageapparatus connects to the server designated in accordance with theidentification information of the user read from the external recordingmedium. For this reason, it is easy to receive the image data from eachserver and store the recorded image data in each server. In particular,it is possible to properly charge the user for using the network and theserver in accordance with the identification information read by theinformation reader.

It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limitthe invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, theinvention is to cover all modifications, alternate constructions andequivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image display apparatus comprising: aninformation reader for reading identification information from anexternal storage medium; a communicating device for communicating with aserver through a network, the server being designated in accordance withthe read identification information; an image display for displaying animage represented by image data distributed from the server; and acooperative mode designating device for designating the image displayapparatus in either of a master mode and a slave mode with respect to atleast one additional image display apparatus reading the sameidentification information that the image display apparatus reads and inaccordance with the information read by said information reader, saiddesignation being provided to the at least one additional image displayapparatus through said communicating device; wherein the image displayapparatus supervises the at least one additional image display apparatuswhen the image display apparatus is in the master mode; wherein theimage display apparatus is supervised by one of the at least oneadditional image display apparatus when the image display apparatus isin the slave mode, the one of the at least one additional image displayapparatus being designated in the master mode by the cooperative modedesignating device thereof.
 2. The image display apparatus as defined inclaim 1, further comprising: a communicational condition evaluatingdevice for determining whether condition of the communication of thecommunicating device with the server is satisfactory; and acommunication postponing device for, if the communicational conditionevaluating device determines that the condition is unsatisfactory,postponing the communication of the communicating device with the serveruntil the communicational condition evaluating device determines thatthe condition becomes satisfactory.
 3. The image display apparatus asdefined in claim 1, further comprising: a communication mode designatingdevice for designating the image display apparatus in either of anon-line mode and an off-line mode with respect to the at least oneadditional image display apparatus, wherein the image display apparatussupervises the at least one additional image display apparatus when theimage display apparatus is in the on-line mode and the master mode;wherein the image display apparatus is supervised by one of the at leastone additional image display apparatus when the image display apparatusis in the on-line mode and the slave mode, the one of the at least oneadditional image display apparatus being designated in the master modeby the cooperative mode designating device thereof; wherein the imagedisplay apparatus operates independently of the at least one additionalimage display apparatus when the image display apparatus is in theoff-line mode.
 4. The image display apparatus as defined in claim 1,wherein the external storage medium comprises one of a magnetic card,and IC card, and a microchip.
 5. The image display apparatus as definedin claim 1, wherein the read identification information designates auser having a contract to use the designated server.
 6. The imagedisplay apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the read identificationinformation designates at least one of a user and a bank account, whichwill be charged for at least one of using the network and displaying theimage data.
 7. The image display apparatus as defined in claim 1,wherein each of the image display apparatus and the at least oneadditional image display apparatus displays the same image representedby the image data distributed from the designated server.
 8. The imagedisplay apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the displayed image ismanipulated by the image display apparatus when the image displayapparatus is in the master mode; wherein the image display apparatus ismanipulated by one of the at least one additional image displayapparatus when the image display apparatus is in the slave mode, the oneof the at least one additional image display apparatus being designatedin the master mode by the cooperative mode designating device thereof.9. The image display apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein thedisplayed image is manipulated by at least one of being switched, beingenlarged, and being reduced.
 10. The image display apparatus of claim 1,wherein said external storage medium is provided by a user and saididentification information describes said user.
 11. The image displayapparatus of claim 10, wherein a server is designated by saidcommunicating device based on an owner's identification when said usersidentification information is not provided.
 12. An image displayapparatus comprising: an information reader for reading identificationinformation from an external storage medium; a nonvolatile storagedevice for storing identification information of an owner of the imagedisplay apparatus; a user's identification information setting devicefor setting the owner's identification information as user'sidentification information if the information reader reads noidentification information, and setting the identification informationread by the information reader as the user's identification informationif the information reader reads the identification information; acommunicating device for communicating with a server through a network,the server being designated in accordance with the user's identificationinformation; and an image display for displaying an image represented byimage data distributed from the server.
 13. The image display apparatusas defined in claim 12, further comprising a user's identificationinformation erasing device for erasing the user's identificationinformation when the image display apparatus is turned off.
 14. Theimage display apparatus as defined in claim 12, further comprising auser's identification information updating device for, when theinformation reader reads a new identification information, erasing theset user's identification information and setting the new identificationinformation as the user's identification information.
 15. The imagedisplay apparatus as defined in claim 12, further comprising a user'sidentification information confirmation device for, if the set user'sidentification information is other than the owner's identificationinformation, requiring resetting of the user's identificationinformation when a first preset time has elapsed after the setting ofthe set user's identification information, and erasing the set user'sidentification information when a second preset time has elapsed withoutthe resetting after the requirement.
 16. The image display apparatus asdefined in claim 12, further comprising: a communicational conditionevaluating device for determining whether a condition of thecommunication of the communicating device with the server issatisfactory; and a communication postponing device for, if thecommunicational condition evaluating device determines that thecondition is unsatisfactory, postponing the communication of thecommunicating device with the server until the communicational conditionevaluating device determines that the condition becomes satisfactory.17. The image display apparatus as defined in claim 12, furthercomprising a user's identification information erasing device forerasing the user's identification information in response to a commandentered by a user of the image display apparatus.
 18. The image displayapparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the external storage mediumcomprises one of a magnetic card, and IC card, and a microchip.
 19. Theimage display apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the user'sidentification information designates a user having a contract to usethe server.
 20. The image display apparatus as defined in claim 12,wherein the user's identification information designates at least one ofa user and a user's bank account, which will be charged for at least oneof using the network and displaying the image data.
 21. An image displayapparatus comprising: a communicating device for communicating with aserver through a network, the server being designated from among aplurality of servers in accordance with a user's identificationinformation; an image display for displaying an image represented byimage data distributed from the server; and a cooperative modedesignating device for designating the image display apparatus in eitherof a master mode and a slave mode with respect to at least oneadditional image display apparatus reading the same identificationinformation that the image display apparatus reads and in accordancewith the user's identification information, said designation beingprovided to the at least one additional image display apparatus throughsaid communicating device; wherein the image display apparatussupervises the at least one additional image display apparatus when theimage display apparatus is in the master mode; wherein the image displayapparatus is supervised by one of the at least one additional imagedisplay apparatus when the image display apparatus is in the slave mode,the one of the at least one additional image display apparatus beingdesignated in the master mode by the cooperative mode designating devicethereof.
 22. The image display apparatus as defined in claim 21, whereinthe read identification information designates a user having a contractto use the designated server.
 23. The image display apparatus as definedin claim 21, wherein the read identification information designates atleast one of a user and a bank account, which will be charged for atleast one of using the network and displaying the image data.
 24. Theimage display apparatus as defined in claim 21, further comprising anonvolatile storage device for storing identification information of anowner of the image display apparatus.
 25. The image display apparatus asdefined in claim 24, further comprising a user's identificationinformation setting device for setting the owner's identification asuser's identification information if the information reader reads noidentification information, and setting the identification informationread by the information reader as the user's identification informationif the information reader reads the identification information.
 26. Theimage display apparatus of claim 21, wherein a server is designated bysaid communicating device based on an owner's identification when saidusers identification information is not provided.